2000 Volkswagen Jetta from North America - Comments

Cup holder in the front jammed closed.

The ‘ashtray’ in the back would never click and stay closed.

Driver side window fell down. It completely fell down into the inside of the door.

Check engine light came on in 11/01. The diagnosis was a faulty MAF Sensor/Airflower. This part was replaced under my warranty. The check engine light continued to turn on and off again. I finally received a recall letter for the replacement of the malfunctioning oxygen sensor-which can cause the check engine to come on. That part has been replaced and I hope that will finally resolve that issue.

Metal spring is lying on the floor under the driver seat.

One of the glove box hinges is broke in half.

Small (long and narrow) piece of plastic fell from the sunroof.

I am dissatisfaction with the warranty. For example, the Gold warranty covers the “power seat motors.” If there is no motor then the seat is not covered? It seems ridiculous to offer extra warranty that does not cover the non-motorized parts. Furthermore, the warranty covers the “power sun roof motor,” yet is does not cover a small piece of plastic. Am I to assume that if I had manual windows and my window fell down inside my door (as mine did) the Gold warranty would not have covered the cost to fix that, because the warranty only covers “power window motors?” The window motor was working fine- it was whatever holds the window up that was broke- would that not be covered? (I believe my service rep fixed the window himself for me at no cost.)

I have heard, before and after my purchase, that Volkswagen cars have reliable engines, but can have so many little problems that are so expensive to fix that is makes buying a Volkswagen a very bad decision. I now have to agree with those critics. I was quoted $500 to fix the tension spring in my seat, $225 to fix the broken leverage in the glove box, and $50 to replace the plastic part from the sunroof.

When asked if I recommend Volkswagen Jetta, I will have to look at the broken parts in my less than 3-year-old car and advise whomever—that I do not recommend it. Even purchasing the Platinum warranty would not make having a car of this low quality worth it.

I too had the MAF replaced, fortunately under warranty.

The glove box hinge broke in the same manner as you describe here. It is going to remain broken because now I must pay to repair the broken window regulator.

The paint is now beginning to flake off as well. This started about a year ago when the car was not quite 2 years old. VW says, too bad about that.

I've had the glove-box problem as well. One day I went to get my flashlight out of the glove-box and it just fell open.

Also just recently the passenger side Sun Visor mirror door fell off, so now you have to jurry-rig the thing to stay in so that the light isn't constantly on.

My 2000 Jetta is barely at 30,000 miles and it is about to need its third set of brakes. I just had the brakes replaced 6 months ago. Luckily the rear brakes were still under warranty from when they needed to be replaced at 17,500 miles; however the front brakes were still 400 dollars to be replaced. Now there is a visible groove in my front drivers side brake disk, another groove developing on the front passengers side, AND the right rear brake makes a grinding noise when I brake.

I've also had the Oxygen regulator-sensor-thing replaced, and saw a marked increase in gas mileage and engine get-up and go.

The floor Air Vent constantly falls out, and every time I've gone in they've replaced it and re-affixed it without a charge.

My Trunk sensor went haywire and made the alarm constantly go off every hour or so; it was going to be 200 dollars to be fixed. But I called VW of America and raised a stink about the fact that the car had just come out of warranty and was now falling to pieces; so the dealership paid for it.

My rear cup-holder has been broken for at least a year. I've had the car for a little over two years.

However, I did find that when I replaced the factory tires with Perellis, my engine was peppier, and the engine noise was vastly reduced.

The Jetta is a great car, but the problems with the design (the brakes were covered under warranty because there was a service bulletin out about it, VW knows there is an issue) make the car a hassle. It seems like every 6 months there is another problem with the thing.

I would buy from VW again, but I'd wait to hear if there were any problems with the newer designs. VW has revamped their 'basic' warranty to better cover the junk that I've been going through.

We also have had problems with brakes and rotors, all 4 wheels have had to be replace with less than 40 thousand miles, dealer said we left emergency break on, which was not the case and must have let the car sit to have the rust.

Very poor quality.

My 99 Jetta has had the same exact problems as the rest of you. My glove box hinge is broken, my window fell into the door and the latest problem is the passenger door lock will not open.

When I had the window fixed VW sai that this is such a massive problem there should be a recall, However obviously VW is being tight lipped about this and we are stuck paying for it.

I would not recomend this car to anyone.

I've had similar problems with my 2000 Jetta too. I've had the check engine light on, oxygen sensor replaced, air conditioning valves replaced, fuel injector valves replaced. I'm starting to worry that more problems with creep up as time goes by. I like driving the car very much, but it's starting to cost me too much to maintain it. I have logged in over 60K on my car. Crappy warranty, too short.

How sad. I really love my 2000 Jeta VR6 but have the same issues that you all describe:

* My glove box hinges (plastic) have broken twice

* Rear cup holder does not open

* Driver's side rear view mirror housing cracked

* Floor Air Vent (passenger side) replaced once, broken again

* Check engine light on constantly - replaced gas cap twice to resolve - seems OK for the moment.

Does anyone know of a fix or reputable replacement for the glovebox? If so shoot me a message at leo@clicktech.com.

I have a 1999.5 with about 60k. I've replaced:

-MAF sensor

-Front Driver side window regulator ($125)

-Front Passenger side window regulator ($125)

-All brakes and rear rotors (replaced with Mintex, so low dust)

-Rear center seat belt needs replacing, but the seat has to be sent out to an upholstery shop, for replacement

-Rear passenger lock/window mechanism does not work and needs to be checked out

-Front cup holder needs replacement.

I don't know if I'd ever recommend this car to a friend. It's pretty sad that VW didn't recall the window regulators, as I've talked too many people who've had the same problem. Same goes for the center seat belt.

Very dissatisfied with my 2000 JETTA diesel at 42,000 miles, Why? check out the consumer reports and complaints on line and you will see this trend.

-cruise control light out at 3,000 miles, volkswagen said that this is not on the car.??? But! it is! you can see it on the dash! I had other witnesses that saw it go out.

-Cd player was replaced 3 times.

-interior paint on middle golve box and on the door handles started peeling at 4,000 miles.

- I had the volkswagen diesel oil changes every 3,000-4,000 miles and they all had to be done at a volkwagen dealer at $64.00 a pop, due to special oil filter.

-40,000 mile check up cost $1300.00, I am professional, work hard and still really had a hard time paying for this.

-at 42,000 lost power going up a hill, the Jetta TDI when from 75 miles and hour to 40 with in seconds almost causing a fatal accident, mass air flow sensor is out Dick Hanna Dealership said in Vancouver Washington. But they could not provide any proof and really couldn't answer any of my questions on why etc.

-Volkswagen USA is discriminating who they and when they will pay for the repairs. They say they base all there repair desisions on a case by case basis. "WHAT!!!, how can you do this to people!" I said. They said that can because they CAN, and they would only pay 50% of the repair b/c I had 42,000 miles on my TDI. I replied that I wanted to take it to Armstrong Volkswagon where I bought it to get a second opionion. At that point to customer service person got upset and said that then Volkswagon might not pay for any of my repairs if I do not take it to Dick Hannah. I said that sounds very wrong, and that that could not be right.

-Volkswagen has LOST my trust and belief in them especially since I am LEASING the car for 373.00 a month.

If anyone has any help or info on what to do please email me a spdskater2@excite.com.

2000 TDI Jetta - Pretty much the same as all the other complaints:

1) Glove box broken latch

2) Rear ashtray does not close

3) Interior vinyl fading and peeling

4) MAF went at 75,000 miles cost $565 dollars to replace!!

5) Trunk pops open periodically

6) Rear brakes seem to wear quickly (40,000 miles)

7) Paint is hazing in front looks like someone sand blasted it and poping on the roof. I would not normally complain about this because you can say it is the highway speeds and road debris, however a friend has the same vehical, same color with more mileage and does the same highway driving and his car has a few nicks. He couldn't believe when I showed him my car.

I CALLED VW NORTH AMERICA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE MAF COSTS AND THE PAINT AND THEY SAID TOO BAD. This is the second VW I had the first a 90' fox was great... this will be the last VW I own.

I'm surprised with all the similiar complainst there are no class action suits or recalls.

I am very surprised to hear these complaints. I thought I was sold a lemon, but I guess not. Well... then again, looks like one. Had to replace my rear brake pads at 25k miles. Check engine light went off several times. Once, I brought it in to replace the intake vacuum line, a week right after that, the engine light went off again. This time I had to replace the air flow meter. I currently have only 30k miles on it. Whenever I start the ignition, I cringe at the check engine light and hope turns off.

This is Amazing... I have the same problems as everyone here with exception of the power windows (cringe)

1. Sunroof needed fixing 200miles

2. Cruise control light out at 3000miles - dealer said the vehicle doesn't have one---I must have been on hallucinogenics when I saw the light on.

3. HVAC panel light out and repaired 3 times-- currently out again.

4. Glove box handle fell off

5. armrest latch broke

6. rear brakes worn at 40Kmiles --one pad only

7. Mil lamp (check engine light) on replaced glow plug heater circuit relay twice, replaced engine control module once, replace glowplugs-- finally tracked problem down to the glowplug wiring harness.

8. now at 42000 miles vehicle has little power-- they think it is the MAF.

9. starting to have problems with passenger side lock.

Etc..

Looks to me like there should be some sort of legal resolution to make VW pay for all the very common quality problems.

WHEN WILL IT END??? Answer: Only when I get rid of this vehicle -- it has been a tough lesson to learn -

BUY AMERICAN- I also have a 1999 Dodge Ram 4X4 with 68500 miles - the only thing I have had to do to that vehicle is new tires and brakes. What a great vehicle- sucks gas and rides harsh, but compared to the Jetta it is a reliable well designed machine.

I have had many problems with my 2000 GLX Jetta. Most were resolved to my satisfaction because the car was still under warranty, for example: sunroof made horrible noise when opening and EDC light came on and could not get car out of park.

I have two new problems. First of all, I am getting rusting on both the driver and the passenger side rear window frames (the middle molding), and my clock runs way too fast. I will set it to the correct time and within a month it is running 30-40 minutes fast.

Does anyone else have either of these two problems? Please advise!

Same problems as the above. 3 oxygen sensors. Fuel pump relay. Rear brakes at 30K. Glove box BROKEN. Rear ash tray BROKEN. Water in the oil. Driver side mirror housing BROKEN.

My first NEW car. I am surprised VW doesn't care. They are the car people right? My dealer is trying to snow me. They say it is OK to have water on the dip stick. Well during the winter here in Cleveland, that water freezes. Slushy oil is not fun. I cannot exceed 60 mph.

Any one else have water in the oil?

2000 jetta 1.8t...car has less than 35,000 miles and has the same problem as all the above (glove box latch broken, arm rest latch broken, rear brakes needing replace at 15,000, paint is chipping inside and out, etc...) what is the currently solution to all this problem?

I have had all the above problems, ashtrays, cupholders, check engine light, 4 windshields (stress cracks), water pump, starter, paint is chipping, glove box, radio, and probably more with my 2000 jetta gl, it does have 47000 miles, but vw's are suppose to last right, anyway I emailed volkswagen of america repeatedly until they finally fixed $900 dollars of faulty junk for $90 out of my pocket, not bad be persistant.